Universities Recognized by BCI

Established under the Advocates Act, 1961, the Bar Council of India (BCI) was formed to regulate India's legal profession and legal education. It is a statutory body created by the Parliament to prescribe uniform standards for professional conduct and etiquette by exercising disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar. The bar council of India has recognized certain universities in India and granted them recognition. Once a university has received recognition from the Bar Council of India, its degree serves as a qualification for enrollment as an advocate. Any person beholding the degree of law must register with the Bar Council to obtain their license to practice as an advocate in India. The recognition of the BCI is not limited to India; the Bar Council of India recognizes many foreign universities.    

There are many other statutory functions like safeguarding the rights, privileges, & interests of advocates, promoting law reforms, organizing legal aid to the poor, and managing & investing the funds of the Bar Council. In this article, we will discuss some of the prominent universities recognized by the Bar Council of India in 2023. 

List of domestic (Indian) Universities recognized by bar council of India

• G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi
• Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
• Nirma University of Science & Technology, Gandhinagar
• O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat
• Christ University, Bangalore
• Karnataka State Law University, Hubli
• Ajeenkya D Y Patil University, Pune
• Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune
• Mumbai University, Mumbai
• Pune University, Pune
• Symbiosis International Educational Centre, Pune
• Manipur University, Manipur
• KIIT University, Bhubaneshwar
• Osmania University, Hyderabad
• SVKM'S Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
• University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
• Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
• Galgotias University, Noida
• St. Xavier's University, Kolkata

 Let's discuss some of them in detail below:-

GGS. Indraprastha University

Formerly known as Indraprastha University (IPU), it was established in 1998 by the Govt. of NCT Delhi as a state university. It has 14 colleges affiliated with it, and 12 out of them are located on the Dwarka campus. In 2019, it was ranked 66 by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

Nirma University of Science & Technology

The founder of Nirma Group of Industries established Nirma University in the year 1994 to promote excellent educational facilities among the youth in India. Institute of the law of Nirma university is one of the finest private law schools of India, as it imparts an opportunity to pursue a broad curriculum to the students along with a creative learning environment of Justice Education Their education is a blend of law, commerce, humanities, and social science giving the broad prospect of career to their students. 

O.P. Jindal Global University

Established in 2009, Jindal has managed to become the best private law school in India. It has been renamed as Institute of Eminence by the UGC for its excellent education system. In the year 2020, this University was ranked 751-800 in the QS World Rankings, marking the first private University of India to break into the rankings. The University has maintained a robust and flourishing culture for student engagement in its college.  

Mumbai University

Mumbai University was established in 1857 on the model of the University of London, and it is one of the largest universities in the world. Mumbai university has given some of the best lawyers to the country and has some great scholars as its alumni. There are 67 law colleges associated with Mumbai university recognized by the Bar Council of India. 

Symbiosis International Educational Centre

Symbiosis law school, Pune was ranked 9th in the law category of the National Institutional Ranking Framework in 2021. For years, it has been marking its name in the legal profession through its colleges and curriculum. Recently, it has opened its new branch in Nagpur and is planning to expand its college to many more cities in the future.  

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

Popularly known as UPES, they have carefully combined an informative curriculum with interactive learning space to ensure their students explore more and more into the legal landscape. It is the first Indian University to partner with the University of law, UK, providing unmatched global opportunities to its students. UPES offers various undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral programs in its School of law. Every year their placement score is 70% on average, including top law firms and corporates in and outside India. 

Banaras Hindu University

It is the oldest University in India, having 100 years of rich history. It has generated spectacular legal luminaries in the past and continues to impart its contribution to the Indian Judiciary system. Their law school has well-qualified, experienced, and committed faculty who believe in providing close-to-life experiences to their students. They conduct their entrance test and select some extraordinary minds open to legal learning. 

Apart from the list mentioned above, there are many other bar councils of India-recognized universities. This goes without saying that all 23 National Law Universities (NLUs) are affiliated with the Bar Council of India.

Foreign universities recognized by the bar council of India 

It will be fruitful for a student who wants to pursue law overseas to obtain their law degree from a university that enjoys recognition from the Bar Council of India. The BCI lays down certain conditions for foreign universities to get recognition. These are:-

• Students should pursue a regular course in the pattern of 10+2+3+3 for a three-year course and 10+2+5 for five years courses.
• For a three-year law course, an undergraduate course of 3 years is a must in any subject, or; 
• Three years law course followed by one year whole time LPC/BVC and a contract of service with a law firm for two years or take a year in a chamber of a qualified barrister, or;
• Four years of law course along with other subjects like Finance, Accounts, or Management.

Conclusion

These were a few domestic and foreign universities affiliated with the Bar Council of India. Every lawyer who wishes to pursue law and become an advocate has to register with the BCI to obtain their license and use the prefix Adv. in front of their name.  

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